RC 0.9.7 released

A new version: Release Candidate 0.9.7 has been released today. This contains several bug-fixes and additional features so an immediate upgrade is highly recommended.

New: "Plus-range" models

The database-backed analysis models are limited to the original range of dimensions and material properties. These ranges were a compromise choice - to cover the majority of sonotrode designs in use while limiting the database to a reasonable size (and likewise limiting the computational power required to generate it). However, some clients have found the standard range a bit too limiting, eg. when analysing sonotrodes made from exotic materials whose sound velocity is so low that it falls outside the standard range. I've therefore introduced four new "plus range" models, corresponding to the original stepped-sonotrode, tube, ring and user-defined sonotrode but allowing a wider range of material properties and also dimensions. Regenerating the databases for these ranges is not practical so these new models are only for online-FEA, that is, finite element analysis run on the analysis server on-demand.

New: animated gif image download and save

As the first step of a longer-term project to extract more information from the finite-element analysis running on the remote analysis-server, I've added the option to download animated .gif images of the deformation mode generated by the postprocessor CGX. These open as additional image tabs in the right-side of the SonoAnalyzer program window.

FEA (CalculiX cgx) animated model (second axial mode)

FEA (CalculiX cgx) animated model (second axial mode)

Caution: While the main "Model" graphics window will update to reflect changes in dimensions or model-type, these downloaded .gif images are snapshots of a single design. You may wish to save them to individual files using filenames that describe the dimensions, material etc.

Modified: File menu layout

The file menu has been rearranged to allow for the changes above, placing the new options in a new "FEA" submenu.

Modified: Persistent units selection

As requested, your chosen units (SI, metric or imperial) will now be retained through a program restart. Note that this applies only to the main menu selection, not to any changes made on individual dimensions.

Bug fix:

Fixed jumbled / unusable materials tab after loading model with custom material.

Installation / Upgrade

New buyers will get the new version automatically but if you've purchased an earlier version please log into your account and download the setup file again. I recommend uninstalling the previous version before installing each new version.

Only version 0.9.7 and above is compatible with the new models and image downloads described above.